Log grapple

ABSTRACT

A log grapple adapted to be carried by a vehicle having an elongate boom pivotally connected at one end to the vehicle for vertical movement with a pair of log grapple tongs carried from a rotative shaft from the second end of the boom for movement about a vertical axis. An elongate rigid actuating rod, one end of which is connected to the rotative shaft at a point off of the center of the shaft. The second end of the rod is positioned adjacent the first end of the boom whereby actuation of the second end of the rod rotates the tongs to permit the tongs to engage a log.

United States Patent [191 Heins, III et al.

3,822,026 July 2, 1974 LOG GRAPPLE [75] Inventors: William F. Heins, III; Kenneth L.

Moss, both of Conroe, Tex. [73] Assignee: Heins-Moss Industries, Inc., Conroe,

Tex.

[22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 352,430

52 us. Cl. 214/1470 [51] Int. Cl. B66c 23/36 [58] Field of Search...., 214/147 G, 147 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 363,476 5/1887 McKee.... 214/147 1,518,560 12/1924 Carroll.... 214/147 G 3,456,822 7/1969 Smith 214/147 G Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fulbright & Crooker [5 7] ABSTRACT A log grapple adapted to be carried by a vehicle having an elongate boom pivotally connected at one end to the vehicle for vertical movement with a pair of log grapple tongs carried from a rotative shaft from the 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 21914 3.822.025

snmmrz FIG. I jk-z FIG. 2

l LOG GRAPPLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is old, as shown in US Pat. No. 3,456,822, to provide a log grapple attachment for a vehicle capable of being aligned for grabbing a log lying in any position on the ground relative to the vehicle.

The present invention is directed to an improved log grapple which provides positive and precise alignment with logs of the grapple tongs for engaging a log, is simple, relatively maintenance free, and easily accessible for repair and actuation.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed to a log grapple adapted to be attached to and carried by a suitable ve hicle having an elongate boom pivotally connected to the vehicle with means for raising and lowering the free end of the boom. A pair of log grapple tongs are pivotally carried by a rotative shaft from the free end of the boom for rotative movement about a substantially vertical axis. An elongate rigid actuating rod is provided, one end of which is connected to the rotative shaft off of the center of the shaft. The second end of the rod is positioned adjacent the first end of the boom whereby longitudinal actuation of the second end of the rod rotates the shaft and thus the tongs to align the tongs rela tive to the logs for engaging the logs.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of spring means connected between the rod and the boom adjacent the rotative shaft for moving the axis of the rod transverse to the axis of the shaft preventing the rod from inadvertently locking in a dead center position with the shaft. In addition, the spring may be utilized to hold the tongs in an approximate log grappling position.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of an actuating lever pivotally secured to the first end of the boom and having one end connected to the second end of the rod, and a handle on the second end of the lever for actuating the rod.

Yet a still further object of the present invention is the provision of a log grapple carried by a vehicle having an elongate boom with hydraulic means for raising and lowering the boom and carrying a pair of log grapple tongs by a rotative spindle from the boom. An actuating rod is positioned on the boom and connected to the spindle off of the center of the spindle axis for actuating the spindle. The actuating rod extends to a position on the first end of the boom for actuation by a lever.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary elevational view showing the log grapple of the present invention carried by a vehicle,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view, of the boom showing the control apparatus for orientating the log grapple tongs,

F IG.4 is a side elevational view of the boom and control apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENT dicated by the reference numeral 12, here shown as two, may be attached. The vehicle or tractor 10 may generally include a rear axle. 14, back wheels 16, a seat 18 and suitable controls.

The log grapple 12 includes a boom 19 pivotally secured about pivot 20 from the axle 14 of the tractor 10 at a first boom end 22. Suitable means for raising and lowering the boom 19 may be provided, such as a suitable hydraulic piston and cylinder 24 connected between the vehicle 10 and the boom 19, such as by member 26. The cylinder 24 may be a double acting piston and cylinder assembly which is controlled by conventional controls for raising and lowering the boom 19. A pair of conventional log grapple tongs, generally indicated by the reference numeral 28, are provided carried from a second end 30 of the boom 19 from a rotative spindle or shaft 32 for rotative movement about a substantially vertical axis.

The log grapple tongs 28 have tong portions 34 and 36 connected to linkage pivots 35, 37, 38 and 39. When the boom 19 is lowered, the tongs 34 and 36 may engage a log and spread the tongs apart so that the barbs of the tongs may engage and grap a log on upward movement of the boom 19. The engaged log may then be towed or skidded to any desired location. The log grapple tongs 28 can then become disengaged from the log by again lowering the boom 19 as the log engages the interior of the tongs 34 and 36 and spreads them apart to disengage the barbs from the log.

However, before the log grappling tongs 28 may engage a log, the plane of the tongs 34 and 36 must be generally perpendicular to the axis of the log. The present invention includes an improved control mechanism for swiveling the spindle 32 for rotating the grapple tongs 28 so that they may easily engage a log regardless of its relative position on the ground to the vehicle 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the spindle 32 may extend to the upper side of the boom 19. An elongate rod 40 is provided, one end of which is connected to the spindle 32 at a point 42 off of the center of the axis of the spindle 32 such as a disc 33. The elongate rod 40 may be positioned on top of the boom 19 and has a second end positioned adjacent the first end 22 of the boom 1950 as to be adjacent the drivers seat 18 for control and actuation by the driver. It is apparent that the longitudinal or reciprocating motion of the second end 44 of the rod 40 will provide a circular motion at the point 42 Where the rod is connected to the spindle 32. If desired, a cover (not shown) may be provided over the top of the boom for enclosing the top of the spindle 32 and the rod 40 for protection. The longitudinal movement of the rod 40 will generally provide a full .360 degree rotation of the spindle because the tongs 28 nal movement of the rod 40 may tend to lock at two rd tative positions of the spindle 32 which are dead center positions when the rod 40 is aligned over the axis of the spindle 32, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 3. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a spring means 46 connected between the rod 40 and the boom 19 adjacent the rotative shaft 32 for moving the axis of the rod 40 transverse to the axis of the spindle 32 and off of dead center thereby allowing the rod 40 to maintain rotative movement of the shaft 32 by longitudinal reciprocating movement of the rod 40. However, in any event, 180 degree rotation of the spindle 32 is more than sufficient for aligning the log grapple tongs 28 perpendicularly to the axis of a log for engagement therewith. Furthermore, the tongs 28 may be rotatively connected to the shaft 32 at a position so that the spring 46 normally holds the plane of the tongs perpendicular to the axis of the boom 19 thereby holding the tongs 28 in an approximate grappling position.

Preferably, an actuating lever 50 is provided adjacent the first end 22 of the boom 19 and pivotally secured around pivot 52. One end of the lever 50 is connected pivotally to the first end 44 of the rod 40. A handle 54 may be provided on the second end of the lever 50 for manipulating the rod 40 in longitudinal direction for controlling the rotation of the spindle 32 and thus properly aligning the tongs 28 with a log. Therefore, the driver merely needs to actuate the handle 54 to in turn rotate the lever 50 which longitudinally moves the rod 40 and controls the alignment of the spindle 32 and tongs 28.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be provided without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A log grapple adapted to be carried by a vehicle comprising,

an elongate boom having the first end pivotally connected to the vehicle for vertical movement, means for raising and lowering said boom,

a pair of log grapple tongs pivotally carried by a rotative shaft from the second end of the boom for rotative movement about a substantially vertical axis,

an elongate rigid rod, the first end of which is connected to the rotative shaft off of the center of the shaft, the second end of the rod being positioned adjacent the first end of the boom whereby longitudinal actuation of the second end of the rod rotates the tongs, and

spring means connected between the rod and the boom adjacent the rotative shaft for maintaining rotative movement of the shaft on longitudinal movement of the rod.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tongs are rotatively connected to the shaft at a rotative position such that the spring means normally holds the plane of the tongs perpendicular to the axis of the boom.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including,

an actuating lever pivotally secured to the first end of the boom, one end of the lever connected to the second end of the rod.

4. A log grapple carried by a vehicle comprising,

an elongate boom having one end pivotally connected to the vehicle for vertical movement,

means for raising and lowering said boom,

a pair of log grapple tongs pivotally carried by a rotative spindle from the second end of the boom for rotative movement about a substantially vertical axis, the top of the spindle being open to the top of the boom,

an elongate rigid rod positioned on the top of the boom and the first end of which is connected to the spindle off of the center of the spindle, the second end of the rod being positioned adjacent the first end of the boom,

an actuating lever pivotally secured adjacent the first end of the boom and positioned on the top of the boom, the first end of the lever connected to the second end of the rod, and

spring means connected between the rod and the boom adjacent the rotative spindle for moving the axis of the rod transverse to the axis of the spindle and off of dead center.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including, a handle on the second end of the lever. 

1. A log grapple adapted to be carried by a vehicle comprising, an elongate boom having the first end pivotally connected to the vehicle for vertical movement, means for raising and lowering said boom, a pair of log grapple tongs pivotally carried by a rotative shaft from the second end of the boom for rotative movement about a substantially vertical axis, an elongate rigid rod, the first end of which is connected to the rotative shaft off of the center of the shaft, the second end of the rod being positioned adjacent the first end of the boom whereby longitudinal actuation of the second end of the rod rotates the tongs, and spring means connected between the rod and the boom adjacent the rotative shaft for maintaining rotative movement of the shaft on longitudinal movement of the rod.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tongs are rotatively connected to the shaft at a rotative position such that the spring means normally holds the plane of the tongs perpendicular to the axis of the boom.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 including, an actuating lever pivotally secured to the first end of the boom, one end of the lever connected to the second end of the rod.
 4. A log grapple carried by a vehicle comprising, an elongate boom having one end pivotally connected to the vehicle for vertical movement, means for raising and lowering said boom, a pair of log grapple tongs pivotally carried by a rotative spindle from the second end of the boom for rotative movement about a substantially vertical axis, the top of the spindle being open to the top of the boom, an elongate rigid rod positioned on the top of the boom and the first end of which is connected to the spindle off of the center of the spindle, the second end of the rod being positioned adjacent the first end of the boom, an actuating lever pivotally secured adjacent the first end of the boom and positioned on the top of the boom, the first end of the lever connected to the second end of the rod, and spring means connected between the rod and the boom adjacent the rotative spindle for moving the axis of the rod transverse to the axis of the spindle and off of dead center.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 including, a handle on the second end of the lever. 